Sketchar: List Art as NFTs - Direct Marketplace Integration

SketchAR Integrates NFT Marketplace Access for Artists

A new functionality within the existing SketchAR art application is poised to broaden access to the NFT space for artists who may not currently be involved with cryptocurrency. SketchAR is a mobile application that utilizes AI-powered computer vision to transform photographs into artistic illustrations.

The platform is now introducing a feature that empowers users to directly convert their creations into NFTs and subsequently offer them for sale within the app.

Expanding Artistic Opportunities

In addition to NFT creation, the app will incorporate a public community feed and offer access to digital educational courses.

SketchAR currently has a user base approaching one million, and will initially spotlight a single “Creator of the Week” whose artwork will be minted as an NFT on the OpenSea marketplace.

Soon, a new capability will be rolled out, allowing any artist utilizing the platform to generate and auction an NFT on demand.

Ensuring Authenticity and Rights

However, a key requirement exists. To establish legitimate ownership, artwork must be produced directly within the SketchAR application.

The startup emphasizes this as a benefit, noting that proactive monitoring of artwork derivation and authenticity is uncommon among many NFT marketplaces.

Currently, there are no directly comparable applications available, although numerous methods exist for creating artwork and then uploading it to NFT marketplaces as a separate process.

Simplifying NFT Creation

Andrey Drobitko, CEO and founder, explained: “This is a distinctive offering, enabling even novice designers to transform their artwork into an NFT without needing extensive knowledge of the blockchain ecosystem.”

He further stated: “Connecting a wallet to an OpenSea account and incurring substantial gas fees for minting are bypassed through this process.”

“Because the artwork originates within SketchAR, its authenticity is assured, mitigating the risk of theft – an issue that has unfortunately occurred with NFTs,” Drobitko added.

Infrastructure and Cost Reduction

SketchAR has developed its own infrastructure to support Ethereum and other layer-two solutions, such as Flow, Immutable, and Binance Smart Chain, with the goal of minimizing transaction costs.

“This effectively provides an alternative to artists and designers needing to acquire in-depth blockchain expertise and directly interact with marketplaces like OpenSea or Rarible,” Drobitko clarified.

Supporting Artists and Monetization

“Fifteen years ago, I found it difficult to earn a living as an artist and continued creating art purely for enjoyment,” Drobitko shared.

“The landscape has changed, and we are enthusiastic about supporting artists, fostering their creative development, and enabling them to successfully monetize their work.”

The Growing NFT Market

It is estimated that there are approximately 50 million artists worldwide, yet fewer than 10% are able to rely on their art as their primary income source.

Data from NonFungible.com indicates that over $2 billion was spent on NFTs during the first quarter of 2021, representing a significant increase of roughly 2,100% compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.